6 fatalities

2002-05-25: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (PK-YPZ) — Trigana Air Service — Nabire, Indonesia

Nabire, IndonesiaFlight

On May 25, 2002, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration PK-YPZ) operated by Trigana Air Service was involved in an aviation accident near Nabire, Indonesia in flight. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft flew into a mountain slope while operating in low-visibility weather conditions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781201846Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a mountainside near Nabire during heavy rain, resulting in the deaths of all six people on board.

What happened

During a flight through adverse weather conditions, a twin engine aircraft collided with a mountain slope approximately 50 km from Nabire. The accident occurred while the plane was maintaining an altitude of 7,800 feet. At the time of the impact, the area was experiencing heavy rainfall, and the mountain involved in the collision was obscured by mist, significantly reducing visibility.

The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. There were six fatalities recorded among the occupants, with no survivors reported from the crash site.

Findings

Investigation into the accident highlighted that the flight was operating in extremely poor visibility due to heavy precipitation and dense mist. The primary factor leading to the disaster was controlled flight into terrain.

Probable cause

The aircraft flew into a mountain slope while operating in low-visibility weather conditions.